Gillingham 1 AFC Wimbledon 0

Match 56/23/2179 - Tuesday, 28th November 2023 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 1 Masterson 107
AFC Wimbledon (0) 0
Attendance: 5,747
Admission: £19 Senior
Mileage: 44/3,904
Weather: 2degC, full winter gear

When the loudest cheer of the night, at that point, is reserved for a floodlight failure, nobody needs me to describe the fare that is being served up.

For 65 minutes this was easily the worst game of football I’ve been unfortunate enough to watch this season. It was utter dross and whilst the atmosphere around me was nothing like the time pre-Galinson, the natives were pretty restless.

For Stephen Clemence, just 28 days into the job, the honeymoon period seems over and he was facing the full wrath of those in the Gordon Road Stand as his set-up with Tom Nichols as a lone striker was perceived as negative. I think I can understand that after a weekend defeat, conceding three goals at relegation threatened Tranmere Rovers, he needed to shore up the defence but one striker at home, and not the biggest of targets, did seem a touch negative.

The first half was only memorable as a reminder that we are definitely in the two pairs of socks season as the toes slowly numbed with little else to attract my attention.

Twenty mind-numbing minutes passed in the second half before the lights went out almost as a mercy to the spectators. They were off for nearly 25 minutes before the players returned with a little more energy.

Gillingham forged a couple of opportunities but the big chances fell to AFC Wimbledon with leading goalscorer Ali Al-Hamadi guilty of wasting three big chances.

With officially 107 minutes on the clock, but still with eight minutes remaining, Gillingham won a free kick on the left, 20 yards from goal. This was sent to the back post from where Macauley Bonne headed forward to be turned in by defender Connor Masterson.

The noise to greet the goal finally eclipsed the floodlight failure in terms of volume and again at the final whistle as the home side saw out the remaining minutes despite a final period of pressure from the visitors.



It wasn’t good, far from easy on eye, but three points takes the Gills back into the play-off places.

Tonbridge Angels 4 Havant & Waterlooville 1

Match 55/23/2178 - Saturday, 25th November 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 4 Gard 51 (pen) Greenidge 55 Hinds 90,90+3
Havant & Waterlooville (0) 1 Phillips 65
Attendance: 1,025
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,860
Weather: 6degC, dry

Two late goals from Man of the Match Tariq Hinds eased the Angels to a comfortable victory against bottom of the table Havant and Waterlooville, who had been reduced to 10 men from the 28th minute.

Jay Saunders made one change from the side that took a point off second placed Aveley on Tuesday with Jernade Meade returning from international duty with Montserrat, Billy French rested to the bench alongside new signings Mohammad Dabre and Obed Yeboah, a 19 year-old Dutch striker who joins from Truro City having spent his youth career at AFC Wimbledon.

It was a cold afternoon at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium and supporters from both sides in a healthy attendance of 1,025 needed some distraction from the numbing of their fingers and toes. Sadly, a turgid first half failed to achieve this.

But, after 28 minutes of the half, came the major incident that shaped the game with a big call from referee Steven Hughes. Havant’s James Roberts, who had been shown a yellow card just two minutes earlier for a challenge on Scott Wagstaff, was booked and subsequently red carded for simulation after going down in the box. Referee Hughes was perfectly placed to make the judgement and it brought little argument from the Havant side.

After 20 minutes of very little action, the Angels carved out the opening opportunity when a through ball from Sean Shields sent Francis Mampolo clear but the Havant goalkeeper, Ross Worner, was quick to cut down the angle and turn the ball away for a corner.

And as real chances go, that was about as good as it got in a disappointing first period.

Whatever Saunders had to say in the confines of the dressing room the words had the desired effect as the Angels came out with renewed sense of purpose alongside the introduction of Dabre for Mampolo.

Dabre’s opening contribution was a tricky run and cross that was met by the head of Jordan Greenidge but steered wide. But, five minutes into the second half, the big striker won a penalty after a run into the box was ended by a clumsy challenge from Yoan Zouma. Lewis Gard stepped up to retain his perfect record from the spot sending Worner the wrong way to convert his sixth penalty of the season.

Four minutes later a good combination down the right ended with Shields placing the perfect cross onto the head of Greenidge, who got in front of his marker to nod home from close range.

Now in full control of the game, Ben Swift went close with a header from a corner, but in turn was injured and needed to be substituted. A moment’s lapse in concentration following his departure saw a long cross from Jake McCarthy find Kieran Phillips at the far post to head home.

Although the reduced deficit made the game slightly more uncomfortable the chances to put the game to bed were falling the Angels way with efforts from Meade and Greenidge bringing good saves from Worner.

Any worries were finally dismissed in the last minute of regular time when a pass was laid across to the edge of the box from where Hinds drove the ball home.

A fair reflection of Tonbridge’s dominance was added three minutes into added time when Greenidge won the ball with is back to goal and laid it back to Hinds to lash home from 20 yards.

The win lifts the Angels to eighth in the table with only goal difference separating them from a play off position.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Aveley 1

Match 54/23/2177 - Tuesday, 21st November 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Swift 65
Aveley (1) 1 Odembi 45 (pen)
Attendance: 741
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,822
Weather: 7degC, dry

Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Corinthian U18 1

Match 53/23/2176 - Monday, 20th November 2023 - Isthmian Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 McLeod 71
Corinthian U18 (1) 1 Benning 20
Attendance: 43
Admission: £3 Senior
Mileage: 38/3,784
Weather: 10degC, damp

After being given a complete runaround for 45 minutes, the Angels U18’s turned the game around in the second half to earn a well deserved point. When asked what had changed, Dom Welsh replied: “A good, old fashioned bollocking”!

Corinthian played some sparkling football in the first half and had it not been for an outstanding performance from Angels goalkeeper, Toby Edwards, no words at half-time could have retrieved the situation.

But beaten just the once, the door remained ajar for Tonbridge and a second half with, as Welsh added, “more running, more energy, quicker to the ball, quicker to pass the ball”, they drew level with a Fin McLeod goal and might even have won the game come the end.

Edwards was pressed into action after just two minutes when a sweeping move from the visitors ended with the goalkeeper making a close range save from Guppreet Benning.

Within a minute, Angels’ Felix Waring dragged a shot narrowly wide and it looked like the game was set for end-to-end action but that wasn’t the way the first half unfolded.

Twice in a couple of minutes, the livewire Corey Holden, a real box of tricks, saw desperate blocks thwart him, the second of which from such close range it almost defied belief that Edwards had kept it out.

It could only be a matter of time before Corinthian converted one of their changes and this came on 20 minutes from the penalty spot after Sam Gerard brought down Benning, who took and scored the penalty.

It didn’t seem possible that Corinthian’s confidence could grow further but it did and the only criticism that could be levelled at them would be their failure to take any of many chances, much down to Edwards brilliance but also wastefulness.

Chances were few and far between for Tonbridge but McLeod brought a good save from Ethan Rook, in the Corinthian goal and the goalkeeper saved well soon after from Ben Martin-Coward.

Edwards clawed a shot out of the top corner from Ritchie Atkins as the Angels retreated to the dressing room to receive the hairdryer treatment from their manager.

They emerged for the second half with a sense of purpose and, although Edwards wasn’t exactly unemployed, saving well from Michael Ihiedi after 55 minutes, he was not asked to repeat his first half heroics.

First big chance of the second period fell to McLeod after being sent clear by Cameron Honarvar but this was saved by Rook and the introduction of Sam Firman on the hour further added to the Angels impetus.

Tonbridge had the ball in the net after 69 minutes but this was somewhat controversially disallowed with the referee deciding that the goalkeeper had the ball kicked from his hands after initially spilling it before Honarvar put the ball in the net.

They were not to be denied after 71 minutes though when a well worked move down the left involving Firman and Honarvar saw the ball fed to McLeod who finished well from around 12 yards angling his shot into the far bottom corner.

The home side had the momentum going into the last 20 minutes and the goalkeeper was asked to make decent saves from Honarvar (twice) and McLeod whilst a final minute effort from substitute Logan Wallace cleared the bar.

A draw was a fair result and Dom Welsh commented: “It was an indifferent performance, huge tale of two halves. We were given the runaround with lack of energy in the first half but an electric second half sees us maintain our unbeaten home record. A point apiece was the right result on the night.”

Of his goalkeeper, he commented: “Toby had a very good game tonight, he’s come on lots and been good all season.”

Hythe Town 0 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 52/23/2175 - Saturday, 18th November 2023 - FA Trophy 3rd Round

Hythe Town (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Hythe Town won on penalties 3-1
Attendance: 387
Admission: £7 Senior
Mileage: 72/3,746
Weather: 15degC, dry after a lot of rain

Tonbridge Angels bowed out of the FA Trophy at Isthmian South East side Hythe Town and with it ended all interest in cup competitions for another season.

Three cup competitions, all exited at the first point of entry and each one at the hands of a lower division club. Sadly, Jay Saunders, who enjoyed good cup fortune with previous clubs, has suffered six defeats in his tenure, everyone against lower league opposition with the only success coming in the Kent Senior Cup against a second string Gillingham team on penalties.

Not unexpectedly, this penalties defeat after a goalless 90 minutes brought its fair share of criticism most of which was justified but some of which being, in my humble opinion, a bit extreme.

I’m not seeking to make excuses for Saunders or the club but the pitch was a great leveller. True, the argument will always be that both sides play on the same pitch but it is easier for the side that strings six across the back than the opposition attempting to play through them.

But that is where the excuses have to stop. Tonbridge were woeful in the final third and Hythe’s steadfast defence limited them to very few chances.

The day had begun with an expectation of a postponement, but a morning pitch inspection gave the go ahead.

First half chances fell firstly to Hythe’s Johan Caney-Brian who saw his effort come back from the underside of the bar after 27 minutes whilst Francis Mampolo also struck the bar for the Angels, three minutes before the break. In between was a lot of huff and puff with no end result.

As the pitch got heavier in the second half, the prospect of the game going all the way to penalties became clearer by the minute. Jordan Greenidge had the ball in the net after 67 minutes but this was disallowed for pushing without any argument.

Right at the death, Sam Flisher wasted the best chance of the half for Hythe before the dreaded shoot-out ensued. Both sides, almost appropriately, missed their opening spot kicks before Caney-Brian and Greenidge converted. That was the end of the Angels success from the spot and it was left to a former Angels legend, Frannie Collin, to wrap up the tie.

A favourite question: Dodgy pitch, lower division opposition, what possibly could go wrong. Unfortunately about 100 Tonbridge supporters knew the answer.

Eastbourne Borough 0 Tonbridge Angels 3

Match 51/23/2174 - Tuesday, 14th November 2023 - National League South

Eastbourne Borough (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (1) 3 Fielding 45+1 Quick (OG) 57 Greenidge 83
Attendance: 1,136
Admission: £9 Senior
Mileage: 66/3,674
Weather: Windy, 12degC, dry after a lot of rain

Tonbridge Angels U18 2 Welling United U18 0

Match 50/23/2173 - Monday, 13th November 2023 - Isthmian Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 2 McLeod 15 Wallace 82
Welling United U18 (0) 0
Attendance: 47
Admission: £3 Senior
Mileage: 38/3,608
Weather: Windy, 12degC, felt colder

For the second time in a matter of a fortnight, the Under-18’s had to face a meteorological storm as well as that imposed by their opponents.

A very good Welling United side, pacy with some technically gifted players asked an awful lot of questions of the Angels, so to come away with not only the three points but also a clean sheet speaks highly of the organisation and endeavour of the youngsters.

Right from the outset, and sustained through the opening half-hour, Tonbridge were forced to concede a huge share of possession to ensure that space behind the back four was not allowed to the speedy visiting forwards.

To add to the problems, albeit one for both sides, the blustery wind whipped along by Storm Debi, made lofted crosses into the box a nightmare for the two goalkeepers.

As said, Welling began the game on the front foot forcing Angels’ goalkeeper, Toby Edwards into two good saves within the first three minutes, breathing a sigh of relief when the rebound from second effort was headed over from close range.

Edwards produced a moment of goalkeeping magic on 11 minutes when an effort from Jed Borders took a wicked deflection that need Edwards to claw the ball away from behind him.

It was largely against the run of play when the Angels took a 15th minute lead. A loose pass out of defence was seized upon by Cameron Honarvar and his pass found Fin McLeod inside the left side of the penalty to rifle a shot across the face of the Welling goalkeeper and into the far, bottom corner.

The Angels goalkeeper remained far the busier saving from Oli Powers and Borders and four minutes before the break, he brilliantly turned over a 30 yard free kick from Welling’s dead ball specialist Powers.

Into the second period and Tonbridge started to impose themselves more on the game in an attacking sense. Honarvar tested the goalkeeper with a 30 yard free kick and was also narrowly wide as the game passed the hour mark.

But Edwards and his back line were far from idle, successfully dealing with a succession of corners delivered into the swirling wind.

A well worked move between Felix Waring and Ben Martin-Coward saw the latter shoot just past the right hand post. After 76 minutes, Logan Wallace replaced the hard working McLeod and within six minutes the Under-16’s player doubled the Angels lead, defying his height disadvantage, to score with a header following a brilliant run and cross from Noah Millis.

As Welling desperately pushed on to retrieve the game, chances fell on the counter to the Angels to add to the scoreline with substitute Evan Da Silva going close and in the final act of a thoroughly, entertaining encounter, skipper Will Puffette headed over.

A delighted Dom Welsh said after the game: “An excellent result against a good Welling side who threw absolutely everything at us. The boys defended with their bodies on the line in the second half and we were able to punish mistakes and be effective in the final third.”

An equally magnanimous Welling manager Jason Lyons said: “No complaints from the management after that performance … Fair play to Tonbridge who were excellent defensively.”

St Albans City 2 Tonbridge Angels 3

Match 49/23/2172 - Saturday, 11th November 2023 - National League South

St Albans City (2) 2 Jeffers 33 (pen) Blackman 43
Tonbridge Angels (0) 3 Greenidge 71,90+4 Shields 73
Attendance: 1,526
Admission: £11 Senior
Mileage: 150/3,570
Weather: Mild, 15degC

Tonbridge Angels 0 Hampton & Richmond Borough 0

Match 48/23/2171 - Tuesday, 7th November 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Hampton & Richmond Borough (0) 0
Attendance: 656
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,420
Weather: Cold, 9degC

Tonbridge Angels U18 2 Bracknell Town U18 1

Match 47/23/2170 - Monday, 6th November 2023 - Isthmian Youth League Cup 3R

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 2 Honarvar 16 Martin-Coward 73
Bracknell Town U18 (0) 1
Attendance: 47
Admission: £3 Senior
Mileage: 38/3,382
Weather: Cold, 7degC

Tonbridge Angels progressed to the Quarter Finals of the Isthmian Youth League Cup with a battling performance against a talented Bracknell Town side.

The visitors, wearing a bizarrely numbered set of shirts featuring numbers from 41 through to 56, also employed a high tempo, attacking game that had the Angels youngsters on the back foot from the outset. But, that style of football naturally leaves areas elsewhere that can be exploited and the Angels tactical plan worked perfectly.

It was a cold evening that needed a good game to distract supporters from the chill and both teams served up an entertaining encounter.

Bracknell served warning to their hosts with Angels goalkeeper, Toby Edwards, gainfully employed in the opening 10 minutes, firstly saving a header from Ralph Vicram and then thanking the woodwork as a shot from Marky Tacrari not only came down from the underside of the bar but also striking a post before being cleared to safety.

The early onslaught continued and Edwards saved superbly to deny Vicram after a long ball forward sent him clear.

So it was largely against the run of play when the Angels went in front when a cross hooked in from the right was met with a deft header from Cameron Honarvar.

The goal boosted the confidence of the home side who began to exploit the wide areas of the visitors defence but Bracknell continued to be threatening going forward and after 31 minutes the Angels post was struck again by Hayden Vaughan.

But the visiting goalkeeper, Nicolo Toro, was not standing idle either and was needed to make a great save from Honarvar and following a surging run from Sam Gerard he was called upon to palm the ball to safety for a corner.

Tonbridge held their lead at the break but only with the help of a goal line clearance after the ball had been lobbed over the head over Edwards.

The opening 20 minutes saw the Angels needing all their defensive resolution as they faced a succession of corners but the back line, superbly marshalled by Will Puffette was standing firm.

On 73 minutes, the Quarter Finals began to look in sight as the Angels doubled their lead. A corner from the right, swung in by Reuben Etherington, saw Ben Martin-Coward rise high above the Bracknell defenders to head home.

Now needing to press forward in ever-increasing numbers, the Angels were able to catch their visitors on the break and a couple of chances to put the game to bed were wasted.

But, by the same token, the Angels back line dealt with everything thrown at them in the final minutes until, with virtually the last kick of the match, a penalty gave Bracknell a consolation goal.

A delighted Dom Welsh said after the game: “An excellent reaction to a disappointing performance last week. We identified key ways to exploit space tonight and were excellent in doing so. We defended resolutely throughout, conceding late being the only frustration.”

Looking forward to the Quarter Final draw: “There’s some big sides left in the competition, but if you get to the last eight, you have to expect to get a tough draw.”

Tonbridge Angels 1 Chelmsford City 1

Match 46/23/2169 - Saturday, 4th November 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Wagstaff 8
Chelmsford City (1) 1 Jenkins 33
Attendance: 1,050
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,344
Weather: Very wet, 14degC

Sutton Common Rovers U18 5 Tonbridge Angels U18 1

Match 45/23/2168 - Wednesday, 1st November 2023 - Isthmian Youth League

Sutton Common Rovers U18 (2) 5 Ueno 5,40 Hill 65 Bond 71 Hogben 87
Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 1 Firman 24
Attendance: 36
Admission: £3 Senior
Mileage: 82/3,306
Weather: Very wet, 10degC
Played at Whyteleafe

Whilst the south-east battened down the hatches in the face of Storm Ciaran, Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s faced a second half storm in the shape of Sutton Common Rovers.

The deposed champions, pipped last season by Cray Valley PM, are looking as good as ever and no doubt will challenge for the title again this season.

Our Under-18’s acquitted themselves well in the first half falling behind to a goal that was clearly offside before gaining a thoroughly deserved equaliser only to fall behind again just before the break.

Sutton Common took a fifth minute lead when the diminutive, but very busy, Ueno rifled a shot into the roof of the net from an angle on the right side of the box despite claims for offside that were waved away by the referee.

The Angels struggled to contain their hosts in the early stages with a second goal being disallowed as the ball had crossed the byeline before being crossed and, after 19 minutes, the crossbar was also struck.

But, they were back in the game, after 24 minutes, when Sam Firman created a bit of space for himself before firing into the bottom corner.

After half-hour the forerunner of Ciaran started to make itself felt as Church Road became rain lashed leaving supporters retreating to the covered areas.

A strong run out of defence from Will Puffette ended with a snap shot from Firman that was blocked but, five minutes before the break, a cross from the right byeline from Bond offered Ueno a tap-in.

Toby Underwood was called upon to make a couple of decent saves to keep the deficit at one at the break.

The early part of the second period saw the Angels with chances. Firman put a teasing cross across the face of goal and the SCR goalkeeper saved well from Evan De Silva and, on the hour, a 35 yard effort from Ben Martin-Coward was turned over the bar.

On 65 minutes, Sutton Common opened up the Tonbridge defence with a well worked move that ended with Hill scoring from close range and the game was over as a contest five minutes later when Bond scored a fourth.

A good passage of play saw Cameron Honarvar shoot narrowly wide but, with three minutes remaining, the impressive SCR skipper, Hogben, weaved his way through to add a fifth.

Beaten by much the better side, Dom Welsh commented following the game: “We defended poorly tonight and were punished by a very good team. We just had too many individuals not at the races.”